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Threat to the Assamese language

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: In the face of the thickened ‘threat perception’ to the Assamese language in the run-up to the 2021 Census, the AXX (Axam Xahitya Xabha) is leaving no stone unturned to keep all threats to the State’s official language at bay. The AXX has already held talks with various tribal and ethnic organizations in the State with an appeal to mention Assamese as their mother tongue in the 2021 Census.

Talking to The Sentinel, AXX president Paramananda Rajbongshi said: “The works for the 2021 Census is going to start. However, if all tribes and ethnic groups living in Assam mention their respective tongues as their mother tongues in the Census, the Assamese language will certainly be in troubled waters. Taking into account the threat to the Assamese language, we’ve started holding talks with organizations of various ethnic groups of the State.

The Assamese language will certainly be in troubles if the people living in sar and saporis, Tea Tribes and the Kooch-Rajbongshis mention their respective tongues and mother tongues in the 2021 Census. We hold regular meetings with organizations of sar-sapori areas, and appeal them to mention Assamese as their mother tongue in the 2021 Census. We’re going to hold a meeting a Miya organization soon.

We had a discussion on this issue with a number of organizations of the Kooch-Rajbongshis on Thursday. We’ve appealed to them to mention Assamese as their mother tongues in the 2021 Census. We’ve had such meetings with various organizations of Bodo, Rabha, Karbi, Mising, Tiwa, Garo, Deuri and Dimasa, and made similar pleas. They, however, said that they would mention their respective tongues as their mother tongues. We’re going to meet organizations of the Sonowal Kacharis, Sarania Kacharis and others soon.”

Rajbongshi said: “We need to work for the spread of the Assamese language by taking all tribes and ethnic groups living in the State into confidence. Contribution from each and every community living in the State is a must to keep the Assamese language alive and intact in the State.”

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